UPDATE: Marvel Reveals More New INFINITY Details

Updated April 1 2013: Following up in USA Today's Sunday evening story, Marvel Comics released additionl details on Infinity Monday.

The following is Marvel's press release:
New York, NY—April 1st, 2013—Earth has been marked as an “Avengers World”, protected by Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and more from the deadliest threats facing humanity. A powerful and destructive race is on a collision course with Earth and the only thing in their path is the Avengers! But even Earth’s Mightiest Heroes realize the one hope of defeating this dire threat is to unite every great hero across the cosmos…because only with a united Avengers Universe is there any chance of survival!
With our heroes at the other end of the universe, who is left to protect Earth? Enter Thanos, the galaxy’s most ruthless threat and an unparalleled force of brutality who brings order to the chaos of life through murder. The greatest threat to the Mad Titan’s work—and perhaps the universe’s greatest hope—is something he created leaving no world safe. Earth’s last hope may lie in the hands of a man who can level cities with a single whisper – Black Bolt, king of the Inhumans. But can the fearsome leader of a race hated and feared by his world, lead his people against Thanos? If they fall, so does the Earth—and the entire universe with it.

The Biggest Heroes. The Biggest Threats. The Biggest Sacrifices. This is Marvel’s INFINITY.
Written by New York Times best-selling writer Jonathan Hickman (Avengers, Avengers VS. X-Men) and illustrated by superstars Jim Cheung (Avengers: Children’s Crusade) Jerome Opena (Avengers, Uncanny X-Force), and Dustin Weaver (Avengers, Uncanny X-Men), Infinity is a six issue comic book event debuting in August with an oversized first issue.
“Events stories simply don't come bigger than Infinity,” said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Entertainment. “ Jonathan Hickman is joined by three of our top artists — Jim Cheung, Jerome Opena and Dustin Weaver — to deliver an epic tale that covers all corners of the Marvel Universe and narrows the gap between Earth and the cosmos like never before. It's called the 'Marvel Universe' for a reason.”
Readers get their first look at Marvel’s Infinity for free on Saturday, May 4th as part of Free Comic Book Day with FCBD: Infinity. In this all-new story by the blockbuster creative team of Jonathan Hickman and Jim Cheung, witness the opening shots of the war that will be heard around the galaxy. Plus, relive Thanos’ first solo story which has never been reprinted till now!
“I'm very excited about Infinity for a number of reasons,” said Hickman. “First, I think it's wonderful that the story is coming organically out of what's been going on during Marvel NOW!. Things that we've seen unfold in Avengers, New Avengers, Thanos Rising, Guardians of the Galaxy, and others are the catalyst for Infinity. And second, for me personally, Infinity is the first big step in a series of big steps that make up the long term plans for the Avengers books I have the privilege of writing. It should be a lot of fun.”

Original story: Just hours after WonderCon 2013 wrapped up, non-attendee Marvel Comics revealed new details about one of their biggest events of the year - the cosmic-charged Infinity.

The August-debuting, six-issue series, which will be preceded by Marvel’s 2013 Free Comic Book Day preview special in May, will be written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Jim Cheung, Jerome Opena, and Dustin Weaver. According to USA Today, Hickman has been planting seeds toward the event in his brief time on Avengers and New Avengers, both of which will serve as tie-in books to the main series.

The story, which of course the cover/promo art of the FCBD special already reveals, features Thanos in a prominent role, and includes an expanded roster of Avengers who head off on a “galactic journey to rally the universe.”

The FCBD preview will reportedly look at “what nefarious business the cosmic villain Thanos is planning to do to Earth, since the Avengers' departure has left the planet vulnerable.”

In the Avengers, the "space opera" tale of Infinity teams Avengers stalwarts like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor with cosmic heroes like Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy on a mission to unite the Skrulls, the Kree, the Brood, and other intergalactic species against a common foe, the Builders, the villains from Hickman’s first Avengers story arc.

New Avengers as well as Infinity proper focus on, “Thanos' secret agenda and the superheroes who are left to deal with him and his army running roughshod over Earth.”

"Somebody like Daredevil, who's used to dealing with more street-level problems, has to suddenly face foes and situations that are a little bit out of his ordinary weight class," Marvel executive editor Tom Brevoort told USA Today.

Playing a key role in the series will be the Inhumans, who show up to serve as a cavalry-like force for Earth, and Infinity serves as a springboard to elevate them into a much more important part of the Marvel Universe than of late.

Said Hickman: "There are huge plans for the Inhumans. They're such great characters, and this will be a pretty good example of why."